Bead remover



y 14, 1942. s. CUDA ETAL BEAD REMOVER Filed Dec. 10, 1941 LATTORNEY.

Patented July 14, 1942 BEAD REIHOVER Siteve Cuda, Duluth, and Bernard G. King, St.

Paul, Minn., assignors to Goetz-Voss Corporation, Wauwatosa, Wis.

consin a corporation of Wis- Application December 10, 1941, Serial No. 422,462

10 Claims.

The present invention relates in general to improvements in the art of removing tubes from supporting sheets in which the tubes are normally confined, and relates more specifically to improvements in the' construction and operation of machines for releasing the ends of the flues of tubular boilers, condensers or the like from the perforations in the flue positioning and supporting sheets.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved tube or flue remover for boilers or the like, which is simple and compact in construction, and highly efficient in use.

For many years it was common practice in constructing the boilers for railroad locomotives, to fasten the ends of the boiler flues to the flue sheets by inserting the flue ends through openings in the sheets and by thereafter merely rolling these ends into snug engagement with the sheets at the openings. was customary to form an annular ferrule or internally recessed and externally expanded portion on each flue adjacent the inner end of each flue receiving opening, and to provide an annular bead at the corresponding extreme end of the flue and extending outwardly in snug engagement with the outer surface of the flue sheet at the outer end of each opening therein. While this type of rolled flue fastening was quite satisfactory and sufficient when boiler pressures were limited to from 175 to 200 pounds per square inch, it was found necessary when steam pressures were increased to from 200 to 300 pounds per square inch, to additionally electrically weld the outer annular flue retainingbeads to the adjacent flue sheets. Although this electric welding of the flues to their supporting sheets, obviated leakage resulting from loosening of the flue ends, it also made it far more difficult to remove the individual flues for replacement, because the welded beads had to be carefully chipped off of the tube sheet with a chisel after which the surfaces had to be re-dressed by hand for reception of the new tube or flue ends. These operations when properly performed to meet Federal requirements, were very slow, tedious and costly.

It is therefore a more specific object of our present invention to provide a new and useful portable boiler flue bead remover which is especially adapted to quickly and effectively remove flues provided with such welded beads, and to dress the adjacent surface of the flue sheet preparatory to subsequent insertion and fastening of another flue.

Another specific object of this invention is to During this rolling operation it provide an improved implement for cutting the beads from the ends .of successive boiler flues or the like, in rapid succession, and in a manner which will permit free axial withdrawal of the de-beaded tube ends from the openings in their supporting sheets.

A further specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved boiler flue releasing device which is readily applicable to and removable from the work, and which is also conveniently operable by a novice to carefully and effectively remove the flue retaining beads and to dress the surfaces of the flue sheet to which the beads were previously welded.

Still another specific object of our invention is to provide an improved tube end bead remover especially applicable to locomotive boilers, which is easily manipulable, which may be driven by means of relatively standard driving appliances such as an air motor, and which can be manufactured and sold at moderate cost.

These and other specific objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent from the following detailed description. I

A clear conception of the several features constituting our present improvement, and of the mode of constructing and of operating an air motor actuated flue bead remover built in accordance with the invention, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. l is a part sectional side elevation of one of our improved bead removers, showing the same applied to the end of a flue and a fragment of a flue sheet, and also showing a standard air motor in dot-and-dash lines.

Fig. 2 is a section through the assemblage of Fig. '1, taken along the lines 22; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partially dismantled perspective View of several of the internal and normally concealed elements of the bead remover, showing the same applied to a fragment of the central retaining and adjusting rod.

While our invention has been shown and duscribed herein as being especially applicable to air motor operable devices for facilitating removal of the beads from locomotive boiler flues, it is not our desire or intention to unnecessarily restrict the scope or to limit the utility of the invention by virtue of such specific disclosure.

Referring to the drawing, the improved flue bead remover shown therein, comprises in general, an elongated central supporting and adjusting member or rod having one end provided with an annular tapered wedge block 6 firmly secured to the rod by a nut I, while its opposite end has screw threads 8 adapted for adjustable coaction with an adjusting hand wheel 9 coacting with a motor engaging cap I9; an expansible core consisting of an annular series of segment blocks II held in snug engagement with the wedge block 6 by an annular tension spring I2, and. having outward projections I3 forming an annular ridge adapted to engage the ferrules I4 formed in boiler flues I5 adjacent the inner ends of the flue confining openings I6 formed in flue sheets H; a cutter supporting element or body I8 having a central self lubricating bearing I9 coacting with the medial part of the rod 5 and being provided with outwardly open radial peripheral slots 29 within which cutting tools 2I may be adjustably confined and clamped by means of cap screws 22; a polygonal driving head 23 secured to the outer end of the body I8 by screws 24 and being co-operable with an air motor 25 which reacts against the cap I9; a compression spring 26 embracing the rod 5 within the body I8 and having one end coacting with the head 23 while its opposite end engages a collar 21 which is slidable along the rod 5; a cup-shaped core spreader plate 28 rotatable about the rod 5 with the body I8 by virtue of its connection with the collar 21 by means of parallel guide pins 29, the collar 21 and plate 28 being simultaneously movable along the axis of the rod 5 b the spring 26; and a self lubricating bearing block 30 interposed between the inner 'end of the plate 28 and the outer end surfaces 3| of the segment blocks II.

The improved bead remover assemblage is readily portable for insertion of the expansible core within the end portions of the flues I5, and when the tool has been properly applied to a flue as shown in Fig. 1, the projections I3 of the segment blocks II will form an annular ridge coacting with the tube ferrule I4 so as to prevent outward displacement of the cutter carrying body I8 when cutting pressure is being applied. The compression spring 26 which coacts with the driving head 23, urges the cutter supporting body I8 toward the cap I9 and hand wheel 9, and simultaneously urges the collar 21, pins 29, and plate 29 against the bearing block 39 which coacts with the surfaces 3| of the segment blocks II, thereby forcing these blocks along the wedge block 5 and hence outwardly against the contracting action of the spring I2. The hand wheel 9 which coacts with the screw threads 8 of the central rod 5, is adapted to urge the tapered cap I9 toward the air motor 25 and the latter against the driving head 23, thereby also urging the cutters 2I toward and against the tube or flue sheet IT. The cutters 2I are preferably so positioned within the slots 29 of the body I8, that the cutting edges will remove the portion of the flue bead which projects outwardly beyond the opening I6, and will face an annular area on the outer surface of the sheet 11 sufficiently large topermit re-beading of a tube I5 within the adjacent opening I6.

During normal use of the improved flue bead removing implement, the air wrench or motor should be properly applied to the main rod 5 between the driving head 23 and cap I9 as shown in Fig. l whereupon the annular series of segment blocks II may be slipped within the end of a flue I5 so as to cause the projections I3 to engage the tube ferrule I4 as shown in Fig. 1.

If the projections I3 are not out sufficiently to properly engage the internal flue recess, they may be forced outwardly by merely turning the hand wheel 9 so as to move the cap I0, motor and driving head 23 along the rod 5 toward the flue sheet I I, thus causing the compression spring 26 to apply pressure to the end surfaces 3I of the segment blocks II through the collar 21, pins 29, plate 28, and bearing block 39, and thereby spreading these blocks apart radially due to the movement of the blocks II along the central wedge block 6.

When the cutting assemblage has been thus properly positioned with respect to the end of a flue I5 from which the outer annular end bead is to be removed, the motor 25 may be operated to rotate the driving head 23 and the cutter carrying body I8, thereby causing the cutters 2| which have previously been properly positioned and clamped in place, to revolve about the central axis of the rod 5. The revolving cutters 2I may thereafter be gradually fed or advanced toward the tube sheet H by manipulation of the hand wheel 9, until the outwardly projecting flange of the bead has been completely removed and the cutters 2I have smoothly faced the sheet I! adjacent to and around the outer end of the tube confining opening II; as illustrated in Fig. 1.

As soon as this cutting operation has been completed and the welded bead has been completely removed, the hand wheel 9 may be reversely rotated to permit the compression spring 29 which has been further compressed during advancement of the cutters 2| toward the sheet IT, to expand and to thereby move the body l8 together with the cutters 2I along the fixed rod 5 and away from the dressed end of the tube or flue I 5. The cutting assemblage may subsequently be removed from the flue end after the hand wheel 9 has been unscrewed sufliciently, so that by bodily pushing the rod 5 into the tube I5 the wedge block 6 will permit the annular spring I2 to withdraw the projections I3 from the ferrule recess I4; and the cutter assembly may thereafter be applied to other damaged flues I5 in like manner. With the bead and bead cutting mechanism thus removed from a tube or flue I5, the latter may be freely withdrawn from its confining opening I5 and replaced by another flue which may be subsequently rolled and welded in place.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be apparent that our present invention provides an improved flue bead remover which is simple and compact in construction, readily manipulable, and highly efficient in actual use. The improved assemblage is portable as a complete unit, and may be quickly and conveniently applied to and removed from the ends of closely adjacent tubes; and when the device has been properly positioned and locked within the end of a damaged flue I5, the removal of the welded bead and the accurate and smooth re-surfacing of the tube sheet adjacent to the flue confining openings I3 becomes a simple and rapid operation. The expansible positioning and retaining core comprising the wedge block 6, segment blocks II, and annular spring I2, may be conveniently manipulated with the aid of the hand wheel 9; and the compression spring 26 which is housed Within the rotary body I8 serves to transmit resilient pressure from the driving head 23 to the blocks II while permitting relative rotation of the body I8 and blocks I I, without undesirably interfering with the feeding motion of the body I8 and cutters 2!. The improved assemblage has proven highly practical and successful in actual use, and can be manufactured and sold at moderate cost and utilized to quickly and efliciently perform its intended function.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of use, herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. An assemblage for removing the portion of a flue bead projecting laterally beyond the flue confining opening of a tube sheet, comprising, an elongated central member, a cutter supporting body journalled for rotation about a medial portion of said member, means for locking one end of said member within the beaded end of a flue, and means coacting with the opposite end of said member for actuating said locking means and for advancing the cutters carried by said body toward the tube sheet.

2. An assemblage for removing the portion of a flue bead projecting laterally beyond the flue confining opening of a tube sheet, comprising, an elongated rod, a cutter supporting body journalled for rotation about a medial portion of said rod, an expansible chuck for locking one end of said rod centrally within the beaded end of a flue, and adjustable means coacting with the opposite end of said rod for expanding said chuck into locking position and for feeding the cutters carried by said body toward the tube sheet.

3. An assemblage for removing the portion of a flue bead projecting laterally beyond the flue confining opening of a tube sheet, comprising, an elongated rod, a body journalled for rotation upon a medial portion of said rod, a cutter carried by aid body, an expansible chuck associated with one end of said rod for locking the same centrally within the beaded end of a flue, a hand wheel screw threaded upon the opposite end of said rod, and motion transmitting means interposed between said chuck and said hand wheel and being operable when said hand wheel is manipulated to first expand said chuck and to thereafter feed said cutter toward the tube sheet.

4. An assemblage for removing the portion of a flue bead projecting laterally beyond the flue confining opening of a tube sheet, comprising, an elongated rod, a body journalled for rotation upon a medial portion of said rod, a cutter carried by said body, an expansible chuck associated with one end of said rod for locking the same centrally within the beaded end of said rod, motion transmitting means interposed between said chuck and said hand wheel and being operable when said hand wheel is manipulated to first expand said chuck and to thereafter feed said cutter toward the tube sheet, and a rotary motor for driving said cutter interposed between said body and said hand wheel.

5. A flue bead remover, comprising, an elongated central rod, an expansible chuck for looking one end of said rod within the beaded end of a flue, a cutter revolvable about the medial portion of said rod and being co-operable with the flue bead, and means adjustable along the opposite end of said rod for first expanding said chuck and for thereafter feeding said cutter along said rod.

6. A flue bead remover, comprising, an elongated central member, a chuck associated with one end of said member for locking the latter centrally of the beaded end of a flue, a cutter revolvable about the medial portion of said member, a motor pierced by said member and having driving coaction with said cutter, and adjustable means coacting with the opposite end of said member and being operable to manipulate said chuck through said member and to feed said cutter forward through said motor.

'7. A flue bead remover, comprising, an elongated rod, an expansible chuck at one end of said rod for locking the latter centrally within the beaded end of a flue, a cutter revolvable about said rod, adjusting means associated with the opposite end of said rod for moving said cutter toward the flue bead, and resilient means interposed between said adjusting means and said chuck for transmitting motion of said adjusting means to said chuck without necessarily disturbing the position of said cutter.

8. A flue bead remover, comprising, an elongated rod, an expansible chuck at one end of said rod for locking the latter centrally within the beaded end of a flue, a cutter revolvable about said rod, adjusting means associated with the opposite end of said rod for moving said cutter toward the flue bead, and means interposed between said adjusting means and said cutter for transmitting motion from said adjusting means to said cutter without necessarily actuating said chuck.

9. A flue bead remover, comprising, an elongated rod, a chuck having a wedge block secured to one end of said rod and segment blocks expansible by said wedge block to lock said rod centrally within the beaded end of a flue, a cutter'revolvable about said rod to remove the flue bead, a hand wheel adjustable along the opposite end of said rod, means interposed between said hand Wheel and said cutter for revolving the latter, and resilient means interposed between said revolving means and said segment blocks for transmitting motion from said hand wheel to said blocks.

10. A flue bead remover, comprising, an elongated rod, a chuck having a wedge block secured to one end of said rod and. segment blocks expansible by said wedge block to lock said rod centrally within the beaded end of a flue, a cutter revolvable about said rod to remove the flue bead, a hand wheel adjustable along the opposite end of said rod, a driving motor for said outter pierced by said rod and being movable therealong by said hand wheel, and a compression spring interposed between said motor and said segment blocks for imparting motion of said hand wheel to said blocks.

STEVE CUDA. BERNARD 0. KING. 

